Faenza

Faenza is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The city was founded by the Romans as "Faventia", and it was well-known for its ceramics production. After a period of decadence from the 2nd century to the Middle Ages it regained prosperity from the 8th century on, and the city began a long period of richness and building expansion under the House of Manfredi. Faenza was loyal to the Holy Roman Empire until 1178, when it decided to support the Papal States against the Emperor. In 1501, Cesare Borgia's Papal army conquered Faenza from Astorre III Manfredi, whom he had strangled in 1502. After a brief period of Venetian domination Faenza became a part of the Papal States until 1797. Today, it is a part of a united Italy; it had a population of 58,204 in 2012.